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Friday, July 29, 2016

In this July 1, 2016 file photo, President Duterte listens during the assumption of command of PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa at Camp Crame.

I got a bit emotional and misty-eyed when I read the Philstar article written by Giovanni Nilles titled "Overworked, underpaid Rody: It’s lonely at the top".

I really believe that Digong was a reluctant candidate. Here was a candidate who said things and did thing to make sure he didn't win. While other candidates hid who they really were, Duterte, showed us who he was with no pretention. Just pure honesty, what we saw was what we got.

Finally he is our president. While our country won, Duterte has lost. Being the most powerful man in the country, he is lonely at the top. Now, he cannot be sure who his real friends are and above-all, he has lost his freedom. Gone are the days when his free spirit would roam free and mingle with the people whom he served.

Asked if was happy, he answered, "I am not." Opposite of happiness is sadness.

Thank you Mr. Mayor President for your selflessness and great personal sacrifice. We pray that you stay strong. God bless you and God bless the Philippines.

MANILA, Philippines - It has started to sink in. Despite the adulation of millions who gave him the biggest number of votes in history for any Philippine presidential candidate, President Duterte is now feeling lonely at the top – and agonizing over being overworked and underpaid.

“Do not feel shortchanged. My will to work is there. But if you ask me if I’m happy, I am not. It’s lonely. And even when I am home, it is still work,” Duterte said in an address to the officers of the League of Cities and Provinces yesterday.

“I am not used to this kind of life,” he added as he asked the officers to take their seats and address him as a mayor instead. The Chief Executive had served as Davao City mayor for decades. As mayor, Duterte would make the rounds of his city incognito or spend time with friends at his favorite piano bar after work, before calling it a day.

He admitted feeling uncomfortable being called or addressed as President, as he offered to resign and vacate his post in three to four years if or when the French model of a federal system of government is adopted in the country.

The 71-year-old Chief Executive said his guards would knock at his door each morning to wake him up to start the workday.

There were times, he continued, that he would shed tears while walking, remembering his father, or thinking about the problems facing him as President of the country. It is during these moments that he would simply tell himself “That’s life.”

“Nagpaloko lang kasi ako… gusto ko suntukin ‘yung (nanloko),” Duterte said. (I allowed myself to be fooled… I want to punch (the one who had duped me into this),” he said.

“Tapos pag-uwi ko magba-barge… matulog. Wala na lahat. Pagod ka na… tapos tinanong ko ang sweldo, 130 – ‘Di mabuti pa nag-mayor ako yon lang pala. Ewan ko nga kung may allowance pa ako dito o wala. Hindi ako makatanong. Wala man akong matanungan (I go home by barge then I sleep. No more social life because you also get tired with all the work. And then they ask me how much I get paid, it is P130,000. It would have been better if I remained a mayor. I don’t even know if I have an allowance. I could not ask. I have no one to ask from),” he said, referring to the river crossing he makes each night from the Palace to Bahay Pagbabago across the Pasig, the Coast Guard ever alert.

The President stressed the only reason he is staying in the job is his love for the country.

The tough-talking Duterte – both famous and notorious for his unconventional approach to stamping out criminality, at times in a kind of brinkmanship with the law itself – was catapulted to power by over 16 million votes in the last May 9 elections. His campaign platform of change captivated a nation bruised by poverty, as well as by bureaucratic corruption and inefficiency.

He spends half the workweek in Manila, and goes home to Davao usually every Thursday to spend the weekend, and where more often than not he stops by the After Dark piano bar to sing a song or two, some maruya (fried banana fritters) on the side.

By Sunday he’s back in Manila, and to the reality of being president of more than 100 million Filipinos.

16 comments:

Nakahilak ko... Thank you mayor for sacrificing your happiness so that we the Filipinos will be served. Im so proud na taga davao ko and lived in a lifetime that you are my city mayor and my country's president. Thank you! I will in my own small way make you proud. Stay healthy mayor! Love ka sa mga taga davao. Kung kapoy naka uli na lng dri sa ato.

This is the irony of it, executives of GOOCC's are receiving gargantuan salaries while our President is receiving only a paltry. Their salaries should not exceed to that of the President of the Republic. The SSS officials should be ashamed of themselves. The Legislature should abolish the useless GOCC, reduced the salaries of officials concerned then the money saved should be utilized in augmenting the President's salary in terms of allowances and emoluments. Pres. Duterte is just honest, this only shows that he is not corrupt not thinking of illegal perks and commissions. With the bulk of his job and his big responsibility, Digong should receive at least 500 thousand a month.

I will be praying for you everyday, President Duterte. We may be limited in what we can do, but our God is able to do all things. We just remain to be faithful in what task He has given us and allow Him to do the rest (the things we see and even not see). It is good to know we don't have to be in control (what a mess we do when we are); we trust and obey the One who created us, the One who started and the One who will finish.

He is passionate, faithful and willing to work hard.Our very own President who works for a cause and not for applause.A good leader living his life to express for the betterment of the Philippines!We love you!God bless you!

He is passionate, faithful and willing to work hard.Our very own President who works for a cause and not for applause.A good leader living his life to express for the betterment of the Philippines!We love you!God bless you!

I was crying while im reading this article... I feel your side mr president i understand.. Ang it makes me so sad..i am proud and thankful that you choice to serve the country❤️❤️❤️My prayers and love to you...

Mr. President just hold on its just a bit less than 6 yrs we have just started as you said we will have a relentless journey to be in paradise..we the 16mn Filipino are on ur side shoulder to shoulder we will be ur strenght and ur prayer warriors we will never ceased to pray for you...We all know that you are destined to be our president.. even u only got 130 just remmember you have 16 million fil around the world who loves and support you that money cant buy..President may Gods Grace Be Always With You...let God be your STRENGHT..Amen..